Monday, September 18, 2006

ROMNEY GETS IT; MCCAIN DOES NOT

Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, said in an interview that he disagreed with Mr. McCain, and offered a forceful endorsement of Mr. Bush.

“I am foursquare behind the president on this,” Mr. Romney said. “I believe that we should do everything possible to support those people at the front line who are responsible for enforcing the war on terrorism.” ... Mr. Romney has been making an increasingly vigorous challenge for conservative votes and is viewed by many Republicans as the strongest challenger to Mr. McCain, at least for now. He saw the interrogation debate as an opportunity to draw contrasts with Mr. McCain among conservative voters.

Asked if this was his sharpest difference with Mr. McCain, Mr. Romney said: “No. There are a number of things. We have different views on McCain-Feingold, differing views on immigration policy, differing views on the interrogation of terrorists. There are also many other areas where we see eye to eye.”

Told about Governor Romney’s position on the treatment of terrorism suspects, Mr. McCain noted tartly, “He doesn’t have a vote.”